Are Microsoft using your computer as a Windows Update distribution point?

Windows 10 and 11 include a feature called Delivery Optimization, which by default can use your PC’s bandwidth and upload capacity to share downloaded Windows Update and Microsoft Store content with other devices — both on your local network and, depending on the setting chosen, over the open internet.

Why It’s On by Default

Microsoft’s rationale is that it reduces the load on Microsoft’s own update servers and can speed up updates for other devices, similar to how peer-to-peer distribution works. Not everyone wants their upload bandwidth used this way, particularly on metered or limited connections.

Turning It Off (or Limiting It)

1. Open Settings and go to Update & Security (Windows 10) or Windows Update (Windows 11).
2. Click Advanced options, then Delivery Optimization.
3. Toggle Allow downloads from other PCs off to disable peer sharing entirely, or leave it on and set it to PCs on my local network only if you’re happy to share within your own network but not the wider internet.

A reboot isn’t strictly required, but if you were mid-update it’s worth restarting to ensure the new setting takes effect cleanly. For a managed fleet, this can also be controlled centrally via Group Policy or Intune rather than per-device.

Still Current in 2026: The Group Policy and Intune Names

Delivery Optimization is unchanged on current Windows 10 and 11 (24H2/25H2) — its default Download Mode is still LAN (peer sharing on the same network/public IP, brokered via the Delivery Optimization cloud service), matching the “PCs on my local network” setting described above. For a managed fleet, the same control is available via Group Policy under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Delivery Optimization > Download Mode, with the numeric values: 0 = HTTP Only, 1 = LAN (the default), 2 = Group, 3 = Internet, 99 = Simple. The old 100 (Bypass) value still exists but Microsoft now advises using 0 or 99 instead on Windows 11. In Intune, the same setting is exposed as the DeliveryOptimization/DODownloadMode CSP, letting you push the equivalent of the GUI toggle to non-domain-joined devices without Group Policy.

Resources

• Microsoft